Fortuna City Council tables talk on medical pot; city signs off on new K-9 team

At its most recent meeting, the Fortuna City Council tabled discussion of a support letter for a proposed bill in the state Legislature that would give cities and counties more options to regulate -- or prohibit -- the sale and cultivation of medical marijuana.

With only three of five councilmembers present Monday night -- Mayor Doug Strehl and Councilwoman Sue Long were out of town on business -- there was not an affirmative three votes in favor of approval, according to City Attorney Dave Tranberg. Councilman Dean Glaser said state Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, the author of the bill, does not represent Northern California and is trying to connect with his constituents for when he goes for re-election.

"My gut instinct tells me that this individual is trying to circumvent city and county policies that are already in place and get the state to make legislation," Glaser said. "I don't want anything to do with this letter or medical marijuana. I think issuing 215 cards has been a joke from the beginning."

The city banned medical marijuana dispensaries in 2008, and City Manager Regan Candelario said the letter would help solidify the local control, allowing it to keep the ban in place.

"People with 215 cards that legally need medical marijuana can still get it, just not here because of the ban," said Mayor Pro Tem Mike Losey in regards to the measure upholding the city's ban.

During the meeting, the council approved the supplemental language with the Fortuna Police Department regarding K-9 compensation because the current police dog -- Zorro -- is retiring within the fiscal year, according to Candelario.

"We are fortunate as a city to have enough funding to implement the training for the new dog," he said. "We'll have a small window of overlap with Zorro and the new dog while training is finishing up."

Police Chief William Dobberstein said the department has selected Officer Max Soeth as the new handler and Witmer-Tyson -- the company providing the dog -- just arrived with a new group and is allowing the department to have first choice. Soeth and the new police dog will be attending handler training in the Bay Area from March 24 to April 19.

"I would like to congratulate Sgt. (Jason) Kadle for the work he's done with Zorro and the impact they've had on the community and the criminals they've brought in," Losey said.